PEmicro's Cyclone programmers are powerful tools to in-circuit program, debug, and test MCU devices either in a stand alone mode or controlled from a PC. The programmers are reliable, easy to configure, and extremely simple to operate.

Cyclone programmers provide on-board storage of programming images, provide power to the target, support manual or automated programming, support target serialization, and have an easy-to-use touchscreen interface. Programming may be launched by a single button press without a PC or automatically from a PC via the automated control SDK. The Cyclone may also be used as a debug probe during development.

Many Supported Architectures, via two Cyclone models:The CYCLONE_ACP supports a wide variety of ARM Cortex devices from many manufacturers.

On-Board Storage16MB internal memory. The Cyclone may be pre-programmed with non-volatile programming images and controlled via the touchscreen LCD, start button, or remotely from a PC (serial, USB, ethernet). Stand-alone programming operation does not require a PC.

Power SwitchingAllows switching of the target's power supply via Cyclone "power-in" and "power-out" jacks. On-board electromechanical relays handle the power switching. Power can also be provided to the target via the debug connection.

Multiple Image SupportMultiple programming images may be stored in Cyclone memory. The Cyclone can store up to 8 images.

Auto-Counting Serial NumbersAuto-counting serial numbers can be defined as part of the programming image. The Cyclone increments and keeps track of the serial numbers in non-volatile memory.

Touchscreen LCD DisplayThe 4.3" touchscreen display, in conjunction with the status LEDs and Start button, allows stand-alone control and configuration of the Cyclone.

Cyclone Control SuiteThe Cyclone Control Suite consists of the Cyclone Control Console, GUI, and SDK. These provide the user with 3 approaches for Cyclone automation and control from the PC. Standard features included. Advanced features, such as dynamic data programming, require an additional license.

FunctionalityMay be used as a high speed debug probe via Ethernet, USB or Serial.

PEmicro's CYCLONE programmers are powerful, in-circuit, stand-alone programmers that support devices from many manufacturers. They are versatile tools that offers on-board storage of programming images, provides power to the target, supports manual or automated programming, and have easy-to-use touchscreen interfaces.

Programming may be launched by a single button press without a PC or automatically from a PC via the automated control SDK. The Cyclone series of programmers may also be used as debug probes during development and are supported by many IDEs.

Device Support

Cyclone production programmers are powerful, fast, and feature rich in-circuit programming solutions. PEmicro offers two models which have the same feature set and only vary by the devices supported.

Those working with STMicroelectronics' STM8 devices can use the Cyclone Universal's 6-pin connector (PORT F), and we also offer an STM8 adapter (sold separately) that converts the 6-pin signals from the Cyclone PORT F to a 4-pin ERNI connector.

The Cyclone Universal is the next generation design which replaces the older Cyclone Pro and Cyclone Max programmers (see transition guide).

Don't see your device? We are adding new support all of the time. Let us know!

The Cyclone series of programmers are stand alone and can program target processors independently of a PC. Connecting to a PC allows the Cyclone programmers to be automatically controlled and also allows configuration of the Cyclone (such as adding more programming images). The Cyclone connects to the PC via USB, Ethernet, or Serial connections and all three cables are provided. For Ethernet connectivity, the Cyclone programmers can either be assigned a fixed IP or can dynamically acquire one via DHCP.

The Cyclone connects to the debug header of your target via a ribbon cable suitable for the architecture being programmed. The Cyclone comes with ribbon cables for all supported architectures. For direct wiring into test fixtures, where there is not defined connector, there are several headers on the Cyclone with 0.1" spacing which are easily wired to.

Modes of Operation

Stand Alone Programming - Manual Control

The Cyclone can be used to program target processors in stand-alone mode without a PC. In this case, the images for programming are downloaded into the non-volatile memory of the Cyclone in advance of programming.

Once a programming image is resident in the Cyclone, programming can be as simple as pressing the start button. The result of programming can be seen on the Success/Error LEDs as well as the touchscreen (which shows far more detail). Using the start button is an extremely simple and fast way to program targets on the production line as well as perform firmware upgrades in the field. The difference between success and failure is clearly shown to the operator. The currently selected image can be changed on the touch screen.

Automatic serialization of the target processors, as specified by the image, is fully supported without a PC.

Stand-alone programming of an image can be manually launched in several ways:

Using the million press rated start button (one touch programming)

Using the touch screen LCD menu

Stand Alone Programming may also be fully automated from a PC.

Stand-alone Programming - Automated

In addition to manual launch via the start button, stand-alone programming can be automatically controlled from a PC using the included Cyclone Control Suite.

The goal is to allow full control of one or more Cyclones from the PC, either from within a GUI, a custom application, or from the command-line. This includes launching programming, recovering results, managing images resident on a Cyclone, adding unique programming data for each target, and more. All of these things are possible in an automated way without an operator. The simplest fundamental control of programming looks like this :

Host PC Command Packet Launches Programming

Cyclone Image Programmed To Target

Cyclone Recovers Successful Result Or Error To PC

The three components of the Cyclone Control Suite allow you to automate control of a stand-alone programming image from a PC in several ways:

Cyclone Control Console (command-line utility). Launch programming, recover the result, and optionally change a programming image in a Cyclone from the command-line or within a batch file.

Cyclone Control SDK (.dll). Allows programming control to be integrated into user applications. Allows programming to be launched and results to be recovered from a Cyclone directly from the user's own application.

Advanced Features (available on CYCLONE FX or with purchase of Advanced Feature license. Allows multiple SAP images to be added/removed/updated, allows programming to be launched on multiple cyclones, programming results to be recovered, dynamic data to be programmed along with the image's data, image management (add, delete, verify, etc), and more directly from the user's own application. Allows remote control and "touch" of Cyclone screen via GUI application.

PC Control Of Multiple Cyclones

Interactive Debug, Programming, Test

The Cyclone can be used as a debug probe via the Serial, USB, or Ethernet ports in order to connect to and debug, test, and program a microprocessor-based target from the PC. The Serial, USB, and Ethernet ports can be used to access the target hardware directly from the Host PC, while the Ethernet port allows the target hardware to be placed anywhere on the corporate LAN or even the Internet.

For PC based programming (not stand alone), PEmicro includes both scripted and interactive versions of the PC-based PROG programming software with the Cyclone. This software is particularly useful for testing programming sequences which will be incorporated into a stand-alone programming image. The scripted version of the PROG software, CPROG, is also useful in those cases where the programming data is continually changing in a way that makes stand-alone programming less easy to implement.

For PC based debugging, the Cyclone is compatible with the In-Circuit Debug Software available from PEmicro, PEmicro’s GDB Server for ARM Devices, as well as many industry standard IDEs and debuggers listed under compatible Software below.

Features

Image Storage

The Cyclone can store a number of Stand-Alone Programming (SAP) Images in its non-volatile encrypted memory. Once an image is added to the Cyclone, it remains in the memory of the Cyclone until it is erased. Images may be individually added and removed from the Cyclone.

A Stand-Alone Programming (SAP) Image is totally self-contained and stores within itself all of the binary data, algorithm information, settings, and programming steps for programming. In encodes any addition information needed such as serial numbers and how they count.
When generating an image, the user specifies all programming steps, settings, and binary files used for programming. The generated image can be stored directly to a Cyclone or to the disk of the PC for later download to the Cyclone. Data within an image is encrypted but the settings used to generate the image can be viewed.
Images generated for use with the Cyclone FX additionally can specify programming count limitations as well as limit the date range the image may be used (the Cyclone FX has an internal clock). In this way, an image will disable itself after a certain number of programs or a period of time.

Independently powered target: The cyclone does not generate power to the target in this case.

Power provided by the Cyclone: The cyclone can generate between 1.8v-5.0v at 500mA. This power can be routed out the target ribbon cable or to the power-out jack on the Cyclone.

Power is provided externally, switched through Cyclone: Power is provided to a power-in jack on the Cyclone by the user. The switched output, controlled by the programming image, is routed to the power-out jack on the Cyclone.

The screen of the Cyclone has ICONs showing the status of the power relays(on/off) as well as whether target power is detected. Additionally, on the Cyclone FX, target voltage and current consumption is shown as well.

Whether to generate power to the target or not is configured during image creation. Power can be manually switched in the menu of the Cyclone as well.

Serialization

When producing a microcontroller- or microprocessor-based product, it is often useful to program a unique serial number into the permanent memory (FLASH) of the product. PEmicro has developed a Serialization mechanism to automate this process.

Software

Included Software

PEmicro provides utilities to set up the Cyclone and generate programming images. Cyclone IP Setup Utility enables users to set network parameters, associate a name with each particular Cyclone, upgrade the Cyclone Firmware, and setup user options for LCD display. Cyclone Image Creation Utility Configures and generate a programming image which sets up their architecture, object code, programming parameters, desired communication protocols, SWD or JTAG, Target Power and Voltage Settings, image restrictions, and much more. Cyclone Image manager allows the user to manage images on their cyclone.

PEmicro provides several utilities to make the programming process versatile and manageable as well. The SAP Launch Utility may be invoked in a batch file to carry out pre-configured operations. The Barcode Test Generator utility facilitates creating a Barcode Test creates tests whether an input barcode meets the criterion that the user is looking for to be considered a match (exactly or range). The Serialize utility is a graphical utility for creating, testing, and updating serial number files.

Also available for free download is the GDB Server for ARM Devices, when paired with PEmicro hardware, extends the GNU debugger so that it allows for remote debugging of any microcontroller target present on the user network.

The CYCLONE FX expands on the capabilities of the CYCLONE programmer by adding capabilities including faster communications speeds, the ability to limit programming by counts and dates, more internal storage for images, external SD card support, bar code support, and access to the advanced features of the Cyclone Control Suite without needing a license.

CYCLONE & CYCLONE FX:(Features subject to change)

Which of these is right for your project? See the table below for a detailed feature comparison between CYCLONE and CYCLONE FX.

PEmicro’s new Cyclone Control Suite provides the developer with 3 components (Cyclone Control GUI, Cyclone Control Console, and Cyclone Control SDK) each of which allows a different means of control and automation of the Cyclone.

When producing a microcontroller- or microprocessor-based product, it is often useful to program a unique serial number into the permanent memory (FLASH) of the product.
PEmicro has developed a serial number mechanism to automate this process. Each time you issue a
serialization command in the programming software, the current serial number is programmed at a
specified address. In addition, the serial number is incremented to the next available serial number
and saved for future serialized programming operations.

Different targets require a different power schemes that depend on the design of the target board, target voltages, and even the device architecture. PEmicro has designed their CYCLONE and CYCLONE FX to optionally power a target before, during, and after programming. Power can be sourced at many voltage levels from the Cyclone itself or sourced by an external power supply and switched by the Cyclone.

PEmicro’s gang programming solution is to control many Cyclone programmers simultaneously via the Cyclone Control Suite. A mix of programming images, targets, and data can be simultaneously programmed into many devices while maintaining a high level of performance because each Cyclone is itself an independently operating programmer.

The Cyclone Control Suite offers multiple means of controlling gang programming operations: the Console and SDK components. Learn much more about how to Gang Program using Cyclones in our Expert's Corner.

User Guides

How to Recreate a Programming Image

PEmicro has revised the SAP image format so that the user can now easily pull the configuration information straight from any SAP image created with the Cyclone Image Creation Utility version 6.22.00.02 or later.

Migrating from the Cyclone PRO (already discontinued) and Cyclone MAX to the Cyclone Universal and Cyclone Universal FX is extremely easy. The Universal programmers are close to drop-in replacements for the PRO and MAX, albeit more powerful.

The PEmicro Cyclone Control Suite provides comprehensive control of one or more Cyclones from the PC via the following components: the Cyclone Control GUI application, the Cyclone Control Console application, or via custom applications using the Cyclone Control SDK. Ways to control the Cyclone include programming launch, recovering results, managing images resident on a Cyclone, adding unique programming data for each target, as well as recovering descriptive errors.

The latest Cyclone installation software includes the Cyclone Control Suite. Simply install the software and use the capabilities of the Cyclone Control Suite with any Cyclone unit, regardless of model or purchase date.

Cyclone Control Suite consists of three major components:

Cyclone Control GUI This is an interactive GUI based application which provides an easy way to control Cyclones and manage images resident in the Cyclones. Given its graphical nature, it is very easy to explore Cyclone Control Suite capabilities to intuitively control or interact with a Cyclone.

Cyclone Control Console a powerful command-line application can be launched from a script, a command-line, or another application and allows control of one or more Cyclones simultaneously. The command-line application displays comprehensive status messages and also returns an error code which can be recovered from the calling application.

Cyclone Control SDK A Software Development Kit with a comprehensive API allowing multiple Cyclones to be managed simultaneously from a user developed custom application that loads the provided Cyclone Control DLL. The DLL can be loaded from many programming languages that are able to load a DLL (C, Delphi, C#, Java, Python, etc) as well as environments such as Labview. Examples and interface code are provided in C (MSVC and GCC), C#, and Delphi/FPC.

The Console and GUI were both built with the SDK and are good examples of the types of applications which can be built using the SDK.

The Cyclone comes with a Standard Automation features and the Cyclone FX comes with the Standard as well as advanced features. It is possible to upgrade the Cyclone to include advanced features by purchasing the Advanced Automation License.

Cyclone Control Suite - Features

The Cyclone Control Suite provides the following Standard Features in the SDK, Console, and GUI control application for all Cyclones (no license required):

Control a Cyclone via USB, Serial, or Ethernet connections

Select and Launch Images by Name or Enumeration

Recover programming result and descriptive error information

Use automatically counting local (Cyclone stored) serial numbers

Add/Remove/Update a single image in the Cyclone

Add/Remove/Update multiple images (GUI)

There are also Advanced Features in the Cyclone Control Suite which require either (a) a Cyclone FX programmer (no license required), or (b) a non-FX based Cyclone with an Advanced Automation License installed. These Advance Features include :

Add/Remove/Update many images in the Cyclone (Console, SDK, GUI)

Simultaneously (Gang) Control of multiple Cyclones via the USB, Serial, or Ethernet connections

Program (and Read) Dynamic Data in addition to fixed image data

Remote Display Access

Read/write Cyclone properties

Read Image and target Properties and Status

Note that the Advanced Features in the Cyclone Control Suite do not require a license for use with CYCLONE FX programmers.

P&E Hardware Interface Drivers, Version 12 (Win XP/Vista/7/8/10)(2890 KB)Version 12.7 Adds support for 64 bit P&E applications. Also it includes the atom fix which affects very select users. Installs PEmicro drivers to allow applications to communicate with PEmicro hardware. Please note that not all hardware may be supported for your OS. This does not include the application level support which comes with the different products. Administrator privilege is now required. Released 11/30/2017.

SERIALIZE - Use an Automated Serial Number(282 KB)Allows the generation of a .SER serial number description file. This graphical utility sets up a serial number which will count according to the bounds set by the user. The .SER file can be called by the PROG flash programmer to program a serial number into the target, or loaded into the cyclone standalone image.

Unsecure 12(5699 KB)Utility which unsecures HC(S)12(X) devices via PEmicro's BDM Interfaces such as Cyclone-PRO, USB-ML-12, and BDM-Multilink. All information on the device will be erased. This version supports the Rev B and Rev C Multilink. It can now unsecure the XExxx and Pxxx.

PEmicro's Cyclone Trade-In Program is a great way to trade in an old model Cyclone PRO or Cyclone MAX for a reduced cost for the new hardware. The program even has an upgrade from a current Cyclone Model to get the faster and more Advanced Cyclone FX.

Buy Specifications

The Cyclone series of programmers are supported by development software from PEmicro, NXP, and many other third parties. PEmicro offers two models which vary only by the devices supported.

PEmicro also offers the Cyclone FX which expands on the functionality of the Cyclone by featuring faster communications speeds, more (and expandable) memory, greater image storage, more granular security features, and additional control ports.